On the question of the calendar

[joasia]

Nektariou

The one under Bishop Paul, the nephew of the late Bishop Peter. I was baptised when Bishop Peter was still alive.

The clergy have no compassion for the laity. All they do is judge.

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Joasia,

If you accuse the Fathers of St. Markellas of judging you, then why do you see fit to judge them?

I understand the Church can be hard sometimes, but the fanatic and rigid Holy Fathers set the examples. I know enough of the fathers at St. Markella's and I know of many stories on how they work with the neighborhood youth and the homeless. I also know how visitors, dulled by so many years of new-calendarism, sometimes come and are scandalized that they have to wear a headscarf , cannot wear pants, or cannot accept that they have to confess, ect, ect.

Like in this past Sundays Gospel reading, Luke 8:32, those who are poor in spirit receive the Blessings of Christ and say to Jesus, "Stay with me, don't leave. We want to be with you!" But the "multitudes" whose comfortable ways are threatened by the Christ or his Church say, "depart from us, we cannot stand your ways!" Today you don't have to accept Christ as He is, you can go to the religious mall and pick up a "Christ" who is a little different, a little more pleasing and easier for you. Then you can start throwing stones at the real Christ and curse His name.

[romiosini]

Let me remind everyone that even Traditionalist synods such as the ROCOR/ROCA was using the new-calendar at some point a couple of decades ago, under Economy.

[Justin Kissel]

Joasia

The old calendarists are fanatics, but their issues are beyond the old calendar, they are plain fanatics with no compassion. They will beat you over the head with a bat because you don't go to church everyday, but they will preach God's love. I'm not one of those.

Well this is most interesting! As it so happens, I am hoping to switch from ROCOR to a Greek Old Calendarist group soon. I hope this doesn't mean that you will consider me a fanatic and without love (though that might indeed be true, now that I think about it!)

[_cizinec_]

Even as an Eastern Catholic I thought the Gregorian and "Revised Julian" calendars were stupid. Astronomical accuracy is great for astronomers and if governments want to be more attuned to outer space, the only place they seem to be attuned to anyway, that's fine. I think they should revise the Gregorian calendar to make it more "accurate."

What the heck was the point in changing the calendar for liturgical purposes? There are even old calendar Eastern Catholics, so that wouldn't bring anyone closer to Rome. I guess it was so we could get bombarded by crappy ads during our Christmas season to keep us in line with the rest of the world.

I really wish the patriarchs would just put an end to this nonsense (I guess I can expect a response condemning "world Orthodoxy").

It's nice being on the RIGHT calendar.

[joasia]

Justin,

I was referring to Greek-born, all of who are immigrants.. The children born here are alot more level-minded and also irritated by their parents' attitudes. Also, the priests are monks and over 60 years old and cannot relate at all to the youth who go for confession. They are judgemental and lack complete compassion and understanding.

There are a limited amount of Greek Old Calendar churches where I live. Perhaps, you will have a positive experience. I, personally, avoid the ones here, except for my god-mother and best friend who were born here and level-minded. I can't relate to their parents at all.

And boy, can I tell you some stories.

[CGW]

So I guess we should just disregard all the decisions made by the Seven Ecumenical Councils.

Well, you know, we've been around this before. Have you read what the councils say? Nicaea, for one, does not give a formula! In fact, my reading of the canons of Nicaea is that the date chosen is pretty arbitrary-- as long as everyone does it, it's a Sunday, and the formula is not "Easter is on 14 Nisan."